Both are wonderful handguns; a great 1911, and the legendary 25-2. Some of the 25-2 years measure with larger throats than expected. IIRC, the later years had the tighter throats.
Mine came from later years (a 1980) and it is a tackdriver, well equal to my 625-4 with a 5" barrel BUT . . . my 25-2 had an amputation years ago, long before S&W came out with shorter barrel versions.
It now has a 3 1/4" barrel and the most jaw-dropping single and double action trigger pull I've ever seen. A long deceased gunsmith from Savannah supposedly customized it early in its life for someone wanting the ultimate "little" 45 ACP N frame using moon clips. It will be the last handgun I'll ever part with . . . and THE handgun I want in my hands if trouble ever comes my way.
Heck, since you are into shooting steel, here's a 25-2 story you'll enjoy . . . I once won an all-comers "any iron sighted handgun" special match at the conclusion of an area steel match. Lots of fine shooters, and this final match was for the entire pot of the entry fee to the special match that wasn't scored at the end. Probably about 30 competitors, and at $10 a person, why not try!
Rules - It was named a "Bill Clinton" match, for the firearm started UNLOADED, in a standard plastic black gun box on a table, with the competitor seated. At the buzzer, you got the handgun out, loaded it, then moved a few feet to the shooting box to engage EIGHTEEN steel poppers or plates, in a 90 degree radius at distances of 10-40 yards.
IT GETS BETTER:
The guns started empty, with ONE mandatory reloads, favoring hot loads and high cap bottom feeders.
Most used their limited single stack 1911 raceguns, either in .45ACP or .38Super, with extended mags, but a few used their STI or Para Hi-Caps. A couple use G17s with the 30 something round mags.
I signed up using a .45ACP, and they assumed it would be my 1st gen. Colt Combat Elite, highly warmed over. LOL However, I'd had a mediocre day with my 1911, but as usual, very fast with my chopped 25-2.
I decided to use my chopped 25-2. Heck, what did I have to lose (plus I can reload it as fast as my 1911s anyway, I'd just have to load three times if perfect, rather than two. You should have heard the ribbing I knew I'd get! This might be real fun!
"How do you think you are going to win using a REVOLVER in a match like this," someone loudly said. HE TOOK THE BAIT, and everyone got quiet!
I replied, "Gosh, by shooting 18 targets faster and everybody else, and NOT missing a single target, AND I STILL have to load one more time than anyone else!" Then I continued loudly, "I'd sure HATE getting my a__ kicked in a match like this to an old guy shooting a revolver!" Everyone had a good laugh but . . .
The effect was what I hoped. I shot pretty early on, and and every time the barrel came down the next smooth double action pull made the big revolver boom again the second the sights fell on the next target. I've never shot it faster (but I shot a LOT at that time) and had it feet sooooo good! The best thing? There's no pressure losing a match you never should win! HOWEVER, this put unbearable pressure on the rest of the field. No one wanted to be beat by the revolver guy! LOL They simply could NOT miss fast enough.
My gamble paid off! And, after that. It really messed with their minds and with every miss came an even more frantic effort to shoot faster. The guy coming in second was a seasoned area competitor shooting a nice tuned single stack 1911 with 10 round mags. He missed three but didn't have to reload a third mag, but that cost him too much time! LOL
Frankly, I can reload that 25-2 with moonclips as fast as my 1911 . . . at least back "in the day" when I shot matches! The gun fit my hand better than anything else, and my best times were with Smith revolvers.
Yep, please forgive this 65 year old remembering a special day about 16 years ago. We all love days like that!
BACK TO YOUR "NEW" 25-2 . . . don't be too amazed if it doesn't become possibly your most favorite to shoot handgun of your life. Congratulations! Enjoy!
BTW, here's my "amputee" . . . with the wide target trigger radically narrowed and with a smooth, round face for fast, double action matches (I loved bowling pin matches back "in the day." The "modern" S&W cylinder latch replaces the 1980 type, due to really helping this left-hander make faster reloads. In matches I'd use Hogue "rubbers," but these days it only wears Elk stag grips and a Tyler T-grip . . . old school indeed!
